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A first hat trick in Senior football for Lewis Hamlin saw Glenavon race into a three goal lead but a dodgy penalty gave United hope and they came back strongly with Davitt Walsh making it 2-3 just before half time. Early in the second half United full back Aaron Callaghan made it three a piece and Tuda Murphy then saved another very debatable penalty from Mark Picking to keep the scores level.

Lewis Hamlin's 25 minute hat trick put Glenavon 3-0 up

In the end both managers were happy to settle for a point apiece. With Linfield and Dungannon Swifts also drawing, CIS Group qualification is still on for all four teams.

Deadline day signing John Douglas got his first start but Mickey Keogh and Seamus McCabe had to be content with a place on the bench.

Lewis Hamlin had the first attempt of the game, a shot that was a comfortable save for Paul Murphy but after Davitt Walsh crashed a shot off the bar in the second minute Hamlin gave Glenavon the lead when he headed in at the near post from Orman Okunaiya’s 5th minute free kick. Hamlin doubled his tally and Glenavon’s lead in the 14th minute when a ball down the right wing into the run of Magennis set him away and he pulled the ball across to the edge of the area. Paul Murphy could only parry Hamlin’s initial shot but the Blackburn-based striker raced in to nod in the rebound.

Glenavon 'keeper Tuda Murphy displayed good handling and saved a penalty

Three minutes later saw Tuda Murphy make a brilliant save to tip Simon Kelly's 25 yard strike over the bar as it looked destined for the top corner but Hamlin completed his hat trick inside 25 minutes when he scored a penalty awarded after Stuart King pulled back Okunaiya. King was booked for the offence and Tommy Wright subbed him moments later with Stephen Lowry taking his place.

The home side where awarded a dubious penalty when Tuda Murphy was adjudged to have fouled Lowry after he had saved Brown’s header and an attempted clearance fell kindly for the United substitute. The big keeper saved Scates’ spot kick but Picking reacted quickest and knocked in the rebound to give his side a glimmer of hope on the half hour.

That hope grew stronger eight minutes later when United’s loan signing from Bohemians, Walsh, scored with a great near post header from Picking’s cross and just before the break Tuda Murphy made a good save to keep out Lowry’s well-struck shot.

Colin Malone replaced Eamonn Murray at the start of the second half, bringing on Micky Keogh for his debut.

Aaron Callaghan seemed almost surprised when Picking’s 49th minute cross was only cleared to him as he lurked just outside the area but his shot through a crowded box found the bottom corner to bring the Sky Blues level.

Stephen Wetherall amazingly awarded a 55th minute penalty against Gavin McDonnell for bringing down Aidan Watson in what looked to be a perfectly fair challenge. Fortunately justice was done when Tuda Murphy held onto Picking’s spot kick at the second attempt.

Stephen Magennis got through a lot of work up front and set up the second goal

In the 69th minute McDonnell cleared Lowry’s goal-bound effort for a corner which Tuda eventually gathered, showing off his basketball skills in a crowded area.

Randall Reid almost snatched the winner in the 87th minute but he put his header wide of the near post. In injury time Paul Brown almost grabbed the winner when Murphy challenged for a high cross with him but the ball slid inches wide.